NDLEA proposes drug test for university students, security agencies, government appointees

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), says it will seek government approval to conduct drug tests on tertiary institutions’ new students, security agencies’ fresh recruits and appointees.

Chairman of the Agency Retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, said this during a meeting with commanders of the 36 states, Federal Capital Territory and special commands in Abuja.

Marwa said that he would soon propose to the government the necessity for drug tests for all tertiary institutions resuming students.

He added that the test would also be conducted for National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members, new workers, all security agencies, new recruits and random tests for government appointees. 

The NDLEA boss said he would put more efforts on drug demand reduction as part of plans to eradicate the scourge in Nigeria. 

“While strengthening our enforcement activities, we will equally devote a lot of efforts to prevention, treatment and aftercare, and focus on family/parenting, community, school systems, advocacy to all groups through traditional institutions, religious bodies, media, NGOs, CSOs, state and local governments, among others. We will rehabilitate our rehab centres, make them functional while more will be built,” he said.

Marwa tasked “all commanders to be desirous of keeping drugs out of Nigerian streets and homes saying that they all must shape up and get all those engaged in the nefarious business to face the music. And I need results from now on. Our maxim will be offensive action. This means we must go all out constantly on the offensive against the bad guys.

“The success we make of this particular task goes a long way to determine the socio-economic stability of the nation. We need not be told of the nexus between drug use, crime and criminalities. The exponential growth of the nefarious drug activities can be directly linked to the upsurge in crimes, such as insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping, cultism, political thuggery, gangsterism, rape and other maladaptation bedeviling today’s Nigeria. “

“It is not going to be business as usual. It is a moving train. Please, let nobody stand in its front. The train will crush any such person. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

“To the unbending drug crime perpetrators, I would like to let them know also that the game is up! It is high time they embraced another trade. The Federal Government Policy on Agriculture is a window for them to leverage on,” Marwa said.

The Chairman also promised that the welfare of the commanders would be made top priority.

“The welfare of workers of the agency is of paramount importance and urgency. It will be tackled. I’m aware there are no barracks, which is not conducive for your line and kind of duty. This as well as operational and logistics issues will be looked into,” he said.